Dear Fellow Children of God,
My daily devotional reading for Wednesday, August 13, was
from Acts 16. This chapter has always
caught my interest. After what must have
been a troubling disagreement with Barnabas in Acts 15:36-41, Paul and Barnabas
parted ways. Then, Paul and Silas begin
Paul’s second missionary journey. Because
of a vision Paul receives, they leave ‘Asia’, or what we know as Turkey, and
start preaching in Europe, in Macedonia, specifically in Philippi. Paul might
have had questions on his mind after he and Barabas split up. I would.
So, perhaps like me, he looked for the hand of the Lord in the coming
events. Those events were not
necessarily positive.
If you read Acts 16:10-37, we learn that Paul and Silas
had a positive experience with Lydia.
Lydia believed their message about Jesus, and then urged Paul and Silas
to stay at her home. Lydia’s whole
household was baptized. But then the
troubles started. Being annoyed by a
slave girl with a spirit of divination, they cast the spirit out of the
girl. Her owners lost a source of income
and brought these missionaries to the authorities, who had Paul and Silas
beaten, and “put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the
stocks.” (Acts 16:24) If Paul and Silas were looking for affirmation of
their new team and mission, prison might seem anything but the encouragement
they looked for.
However, God’s ways are not our ways, nor His thoughts
our thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9) Often,
when things are worst, God’s hand becomes most evident! An earthquake opened the doors of the prison
and loosed the shackles on all the prisoners. When the jailer saw the open
doors, he was about to take his own life, supposing he would be counted
responsible for all the escaped prisoners.
But God worked! Paul cried out, "Do
not harm yourself, for we are all here." (Acts 16:28) The jailer was
overwhelmed. Having heard Paul and Silas
pray and sing, he asked them, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
(Acts 16:30) The simple truth which Paul and Silas shared with the jailer was, "Believe
in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
(Acts 16:31) The jailer took Paul and Silas home and treated their wounds. Now his whole household was baptized! Perhaps you see what I do, when things are at
the worst and God acts, His love and grace and power become even more evident.
I was thinking of how God has acted in my life, and that
of my family, and I received three messages on Wednesday from people I know. Years ago I made a friend while I was, of all
things, ICE FISHING. Yup! Fred Deussing is a man of faith who has invited
me to his home, fed my grandchildren, gone salmon fishing with me, and worshiped
at times at St. John. But we met on the
ice. As a friend I include Fred and his
family in my daily prayers. On
Wednesday, August 13, Fred sent out an email devotion entitled, “Miracle.” While ice fishing on a river in Alaska, one
of his young sons wandered downstream to open water and fell in. In his blog Fred tells the agonizing effort
to stretch out on thin ice and save his son, hurrying him home to chip the ice
off his body.
Fred writes of their conversation that night. “Tucking my thawed out little guy into bed
that night, we said our prayers together, thanking God for His protection. I
told him I was proud of him for being strong enough to hold on until I could
get to him. The innocent childlike trust of his response revealed the
miraculous, Providential truth . . .’Daddy, I couldn’t hold on. God said the
man would hold me up until you came.’ I hugged him crying, “…the man…”,
God’s guardian angel sent to spare my son from a horrifying, frozen drowning,
and from grief this father could never imagine being able to bear. I will
continue to thank Him throughout eternity.”
When things are at the worst and God acts, His love and grace and power
become even more evident.
Then I received a text from my wife about a young 2 year
old boy who parents thought may have drowned this past spring near Spokane, WA. At St. John, I baptized Sarah Reed, now Sarah
Bryan. Sarah and her husband, Corwin,
tell in a Youtube video how their son, Jo Jo, was found in a pond,
non-responsive, and how the hospital prepared Sarah and Corwin for the worst
outcome. Amazingly, this young boy who
was not expected to live, left the hospital 9 days later fully healthy. He arrived home to celebrate his second
birthday the next day. They credit the
Lord of love. When things are at the
worst and God acts, His love and grace and power become even more evident.
Then I received a text from my brother, James. His wife, Martha, suffered severe seizures in
May of 2024. Her life was changed immensely. However, on August 13, 2025, we learned that
her health has improved so much that she is now approved to drive again. When
things are at the worst and God acts, His love and grace and power become even
more evident.
Do you believe in miracles? I’m not sure that is the right question. Rather, do we believe that the Lord of the
Universe has broken into this sinful world with His grace and love through
Jesus, and continues to do so still today?
Paul’s words to the jailer were, "Believe in the Lord Jesus,
and you will be saved, you and your household." Do you believe in the
God of love, in Jesus Christ?
When things go badly in my life I sometimes wonder, “Why?”,
and “Where is God ?” Psalm 46 tells us
that when we are really in need, God is really present. “God is our refuge and strength, a very
present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
Have you seen the hand of God in the tough times in your
life? I have. God especially shows us His love in His Son, Jesus!
A Child of God, Believing in My Lord Jesus, Who STILL
Performs Miracles!
Pastor Rockey
P.S. Perhaps you would
like to see these stories in fuller form.
·
Here is Fred Deussing’s devotion from August 12
- Miracles – Abba's Art
-
·
Here is the Youtube video from Corwin and Sarah
about Jo Jo. Corwin and Sara - Jojo's
Story. https://youtu.be/7rIJcLNlXCk
P.P.S. I am now serving Our Redeemer Lutheran in
Chugiak, AK, as part-time Vacancy Pastor.
·
The Back to School Blessing was given in
worship at Our Redeemer on Sunday, August 10.
Thirty-One young people beginning school came forward as Family Life
Minister, Lauren Johnston, gave the blessing and led a prayer. Here is a picture taken by Abby Keller. https://photos.app.goo.gl/QaL9YZ5UNCDeJtW68
·
The Our Redeemer Call Committee has been
formed. It includes Elder and chairman,
Jerry Simpson, also Heidi Enlow, Ruth Keller, Theo Lee, Jacob Lewis, Scott
Roelfs, and Martha Wilkins. They met on
June 4, July 1, and July 22. The first
step in the call process will be to complete a congregational self-study. The Northwest District has the study and
tools to help in this study. The
committee targets August 15 for inputs from leaders to the congregational
self-study. The next meeting is on
August 19.
Regular Bible Studies and Sunday School
·
Adult Bible Study continues on Sunday
mornings at 9:00 a.m. The class is
studying “Basic Christian Teachings.” On August 3 we studied about the Lord’s
Supper. On August 10 we concluded the
study on the Lord’s Supper and began studying Lutheran worship practices. When
this topic is finished we will study the 10 commandments. Come and join us!
·
Summer Sunday School - Children have an
opportunity to study during the summer as well.
Leah Rawlins is leading the children in studying the book of Ruth. At the end of this study they may put what
they learned into expression through legos.
All Children are WELCOME! 😊 (However, there is no Sunday School on
August 31 (Labor Day Weekend!)
·
On Sunday, August 3, 5 young people attended an
‘early communion class. Those attending
included Evelyn Anderson, Hannah Anderson,
Clarence Hall, Broderick McCormick, and Annika Roelfs Four of these children received “Faith Alive
Bibles” in worship on August 10.
·
On Sunday, August 10, we held a meeting after
worship to discuss Confirmation Classes in the future for youth. If you are in 6th or 7th
grade, or interested in Confirmation classes, please talk to Lauren Johnston or
Pastor Rockey.
·
On Sunday, August 24, we will offer an acolyte
class after worship.
Other Activities of Faith:
· MANY
CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE WITH ME IN 2024 and 2025 using the
“Today’s Light Devotional Bible.” We are now in the New Testament! On Tuesday, August 13, we read Acts 16, about
Paul and Silas in Philippi!
Feel free to
contact Pastor Rockey at 907-841-4066 if you have any questions about these
readings. Or send an e-mail question to jonrock53@mtaonline.net I have
recently received questions and comments. It is always good to consider
our Lord’s love and guidance. I will TRY to answer, but some things only God
knows!
P.P.P.S. Family
and Fishing! -
·
Our garden is continuing to yield. Though, as
the summer progresses some crops are waning.
Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/YsgRtnCVdB6NDH457
·
On Sunday, August 10, I cut down a cottonwood
tree in my back yard which had grown large and was threatening my fence, and
the fence of my neighbor. Here are a few
pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/2rhqG8LEcsjyMapS9
·
On August 7, I went fishing on the Little
Susitna River with Kym Miller from St. John Lutheran, Palmer. It rained much of
the day, but we did catch 4 silver and 1 pink salmon. Here
are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/zrSEVCfjNDrvDLrg6
·
Father and Daughter (and neighbor) Fishing-
On Monday, August 11, I went fishing on the Little Susitna River with daughter,
Mary, and neighbor, Terry Whiteman. We
caught 3 silver salmon and a chum. Mary
caught the first fish, the biggest fish, and 3 of the four fish. She said Terry and I were ‘slackin.’ Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/XiWwrA3s1gWmfueT7
*******
ABOUT THIS DEVOTION - I retired at the end of
August 2019 from serving as full-time senior pastor of St. John Lutheran Church
in Palmer, AK. I was writing a weekly devotion previously entitled,
"Thoughts from the Pastor." When I retired many asked me to
continue writing these devotions. So I have continued writing.
However, with life's changes I now call this weekly devotion "Journeys
Through Life as a Child of God." Since I am no longer senior pastor
at St. John, I felt it right to only send this message to those who asked to
receive it. (However, I am currently as Vacancy Pastor for Our Redeemer
Lutheran Church in Chugiak, AK.)
So, if you stopped receiving
these devotions and wondered why, now you understand. And, if you are now
receiving these devotions and do not wish to receive them, please let me know,
and I’ll gladly remove your name from my distribution list. My e-mail
address is jonrock53@mtaonline.net.
My prayer is that these
devotions help each of you in your daily walk with our Lord, Jesus.
*******
Jonathan Rockey
Child of God
Husband, Father, Son, Grandfather
Vacancy Pastor, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Chugiak, AK
Pastor Emeritus, St. John Lutheran Church, Palmer, AK
How
great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called
children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1 a)
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